Impression formation Self perception'

1

• Impression formation Self perception.
• We dont just perceive others we also have an
  impression of ourselves, whether it is good or
  bad!
• Social schemas used to make sense of others
• Self schemas - used to make sense of ourselves.
• Not easy to put concept of self into words.
• Basic concept self concept
• general awareness of self

2

• Self concept

How we would like to be
Value we put on ourselves
How we see ourselves
3

• How do we tend to describe ourselves?
• Task write down 20 answers to the question Who
  am I?
• Begin each answer with I am..
• This is the twenty statements test (Kuhn
  McPartland) responses tend to fall into two
  main categories-
• Roles -
• Family relationships, daughter/ mother work,
  teacher religious identity, Christian,
  activities play violin /go to gym
• Personality traits-
• Lively, out-going, commits to things can
  combine 2 e.g. enthusiastic musician, committed
  Christian..

4

• William James (1890) made a distinction between
  I and me
• I
• existential self self as subject refers to
  capacity for conscious awareness awareness of
  our own awareness, sense of uniqueness,
  experiencing ourselves as an individual
• Me
• categorical self self as object aspects of
  self known when we stand back and look at
  ourselves physical characteristics, values,
  attitudes, roles, social identity behaviour.

5
Copy and complete this diagram explaining what is
meant by each of the factors-
Reactions of others looking glass self (Cooley
1902)
Social comparisons
Factors contributing to self image
Group membership
6

• Elements of the looking-glass self-
• We imagine how we appear to others e.g. am I
  attractive? Clever? Funny?
• We imagine their judgement of that appearance
  e.g. do they see us as we see ourselves? If
  yes then self-concept is strengthened
  behaviour carries on. If no the self-concept
  is weakened and we change our behaviour. Thus or
  self concept is developed.
• If we feel we cannot meet expectation of
  ourselves and others sense of inferiority

7

• Task- Use these question to help you make notes
  from the handout of Cooleys looking glass self
  on how the self-concept develops.
• When is the crucial time for developing
  self-concept according to Cooley?
• What are significant others?
• How do these significant others change during
  childhood? Quote some evidence to support this
• Can self-image change in adulthood? again
  quote some evidence to support this

8

• Self-esteem
• evaluative part of self image
• Ideal self
• sort of person you would like to be
• Distance between self image and ideal self is
  crucial to determine self-esteem.

High self esteem
9
Low self-esteem
10
Coopersmith study

• Aim investigate factors leading to self esteem.
• Method 100s white middle class boys had self
  esteem measured by- a) self report
• b) teachers evaluation
• c) projective test scores.
• Selected top 17 and compared with bottom 17.
• NB no differences in intelligence or physical
  attractiveness
• Results-
• High self esteem more accurate perception of
  self, more popular, did better at school.
• Low self esteem underrated abilities,
  underachieve at school, pre-occupied with own
  problems.

11

• Differences in parenting style-
• High self esteem democratic parenting style
  show approval set clear guidelines for
  behaviour.
• Low self esteem inconsistent parenting
  alternate between being over-punitive and
  over-permissive. Often neglecting and
  disrespectful towards children.
• Conclusion reactions of others (particularly
  parents) have major influence on self-esteem.
  Supports looking-glass theory.
• Problems- only boys
• only one cultural group
• drew attention to participants self esteem
  possible ethical issues, particularly from those
  with low self esteem.

12

• Pretensions
• value we put on various aspects of the self

13
Intellectual achievement how capable child
feels in relation to schoolwork
Appearance how happy child is with way they look
Behaviour extent to which child feels they
behave appropriately
Self esteem
Athletic competence how competent child feels
in physical skills, sport games
Interpersonal relationships how well accepted
child feels by others
14
Relationship between perception of past selves
and current self-esteem.

• Attitude to past self
• Did like Did not like
• Psychological distance person feels between past
  self and current self
• Close Distant Close Distant
• Self-esteem of person
• Higher Lower Lower Higher